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Study Sport Development and Management at Otago

Community, culture, and commerce.

Sport is a rapidly expanding industry that intersects with education, culture, commerce, health and tourism. As an internationally-recognised applied discipline, the Sport Development and Management major is founded on the global growth in sport science degrees and sport management specialisations. It has three orientations:

  • It is concerned with the quality of organisations and the societal conditions that support sport participation.
  • It revolves around the enhancement of individuals and the understanding of psychological variables that help development and performance.
  • It attends to sport’s growing links with community objectives such as wellness, social integration, and economic renewal.

Papers examine the spectrum of people, institutions, and policies that influence the structure, management, and experience of sport.

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Why study Sport Development and Management?

Otago offers the only Sport Development and Management programme in New Zealand. It offers the option of a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts, which provides flexibility for those who have more interest in either sciences or arts/humanities.

Sport Development and Management offers the opportunity to pursue a minor in a related area of interest including: Exercise and Sport Science, Management, Marketing, Media and Communication Studies, Psychology, Geography and Education.

Sport Development and Management offers a practicum programme where students can work with school or community sport organisations or undertake applied research in the NZ Centre for Sport Policy and Politics – this will provide real world practical experience.

Career opportunities

Careers in this sector and industry include sport development officers, administrators and managers in national sports governing bodies, regional sport organisations, community trusts, government ministries and local councils. Sport Development professions also include: teachers, coaches, youth workers, sport marketers, and school sport co-ordinators – all of whom are involved in improving individuals and environments around sport / physical activity.

The programme has strong pathways to postgraduate qualifications (e.g. master's and PhD) in Sport Development and Management.

Sport Development and Management at Otago

Study at New Zealand's top-ranked department

This major and minor is hosted at the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences. We are the number 1 ranked department in New Zealand and 12th in the world in our field.

Background required

There are no specific Year 12 or 13 level subjects required for admission. However, biology and physical education may be helpful. Language-rich subjects and social sciences are also recommended.

Requirements

Sport Development and Management as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BCom, BEntr, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc degree

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

LevelPapersPoints
100-level

SPEX 101 Sport, Science and Society

18

200-level

Two of:
SPEX 204 Psychology of Sports and Exercise
SPEX 208 Sociology of Sport and Exercise
SPEX 209 Sport Development and Management

36
300-level

Two of:
SPEX 304 Sport Psychology
SPEX 312 Advanced Sociology of Sport
SPEX 313 Sport and Health Policy
SPEX 314 Advanced Sport Management
SPEX 315 Sport Media

36

Total 90

SPEX papers

Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
SPEX101 2024, 2025 Sport, Science and Society 18 points Semester 1
SPEX102 2024, 2025 Principles of Exercise for Health and Performance 18 points Semester 2
SPEX201 2024, 2025 Biomechanics 18 points Semester 2
SPEX202 2024, 2025 Motor Behaviour 18 points Semester 1
SPEX203 2024, 2025 Exercise Physiology 18 points Semester 1
SPEX204 2024, 2025 Psychology of Sport and Exercise 18 points Semester 2
SPEX205 2024, 2025 Physical Activity and Health 18 points Semester 2
SPEX206 2024, 2025 Te Pū o te Ora Māori Physical Education and Health 18 points Not offered in 2024, Semester 1
SPEX207 2024, 2025 Understanding Sports Coaching 18 points Semester 1
SPEX208 2024, 2025 Sociology of Sport and Exercise 18 points Semester 2
SPEX209 2024, 2025 Sport Development and Management 18 points Semester 1
SPEX301 2024, 2025 Performance Analysis 18 points Semester 1
SPEX303 2024, 2025 Exercise Energetics and Physiology 18 points Semester 2
SPEX304 2024, 2025 Sport Psychology 18 points Semester 1
SPEX305 2024, 2025 Athletic Conditioning and Rehabilitation 18 points Semester 1
SPEX306 2024, 2025 Te Pou o Te Koronga Advanced Māori Physical Education and Health 18 points Not offered in 2024, Semester 2
SPEX307 2024, 2025 Coaching, Leadership and Mentoring 18 points Semester 2
SPEX308 2024, 2025 Psychology of Physical Activity 18 points Semester 1
SPEX309 2024, 2025 Active Living and Environment 18 points Semester 1
SPEX310 2024, 2025 Exercise for Clinical Populations 18 points Semester 1
SPEX311 2024, 2025 Sports Technology 18 points Semester 2
SPEX312 2024, 2025 Advanced Sociology of Sport 18 points Semester 1
SPEX313 2024, 2025 Sport and Health Policy 18 points Not offered in 2024, Semester 2
SPEX314 2024, 2025 Advanced Sport Management 18 points Semester 2, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
SPEX315 2024, 2025 Sport Media 18 points Semester 2
SPEX316 2024, 2025 Practicum 18 points Full Year, Semester 1, Semester 2, 1st Non standard period (10 November 2025 - 20 February 2026)
SPEX317 2024, 2025 Neural Control of Movement 18 points Semester 2
SPEX380 2024, 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
SPEX401 2024, 2025 Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Health 20 points Semester 1
SPEX440 2024, 2025 Advanced Topics in Physical Education, Activity and Health 20 points Semester 1
SPEX441 2024, 2025 Advanced Topics in Physical Education, Activity and Health 20 points Semester 2
SPEX450 2024, 2025 Advanced Topics in Exercise and Sport Science 20 points Semester 1
SPEX451 2024, 2025 Advanced Topics in Exercise and Sport Science 20 points Semester 2
SPEX460 2024, 2025 Advanced Topics in Sport Development 20 points Semester 1
SPEX461 2024, 2025 Advanced Topics in Sport Management and Policy 20 points Semester 2
SPEX480 2024, 2025 Research Project 40 points Full Year
SPEX481 2024, 2025 Independent Study 20 points Semester 1, Semester 2
SPEX490 2024, 2025 Dissertation 60 points Full Year
SPEX495 2024, 2025 Master's Thesis Preparation 40 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (1 March 2024 - 28 February 2025), 2nd Non standard period (1 July 2024 - 26 June 2025), 1st Non standard period (3 March 2025 - 27 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (1 July 2025 - 26 June 2026)
SPEX516 2024, 2025 Practicum 30 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (23 February 2024 - 21 February 2025), 1st Non standard period
SPEX517 2024, 2025 Practicum Report 30 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (23 February 2024 - 21 February 2025), 1st Non standard period

More information

Contact us

School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences
Tel +64 3 479 8991
Email physical-education@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/sopeses

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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.

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